Leica LTM The use of FILTERS

[jesse1dog]

Been looking through all the odd bits and pieces I have accumulated over the years, thought they might be useful sometime, buried them away just in case, and now need to do a bit of sorting out.

What I came across was an A series Cokin filter holder, and some filters that looked interesting. Now the filter holder doesn't fit any Leica lens I have but I believe I can get adapter rings to fit - well, the catalogue says I can but as yet I haven't found anyone stocking them!

So the first and easy question is:
What size screw in fitting do the following lenses take?:

Elmar 5/3.5
Summar 5/2
Summarit 5/2

The second question : Is anyone out there using the Cokin filter system?

The third question : What filters do you guys use anyway?

I don't seem to have seen much discussion on the use of filters so perhaps this will kick off some.

 

[colyn]

So the first and easy question is:
What size screw in fitting do the following lenses take?:

Elmar 5/3.5
Summar 5/2
Summarit 5/2

I don't remember what size the Summar takes and I may be wrong on the Elmar which I think may be 27mm and the Summarit takes a 41mm screw-on filter.

The second question : Is anyone out there using the Cokin filter system?

The third question : What filters do you guys use anyway?

I don't seem to have seen much discussion on the use of filters so perhaps this will kick off some.

I tried the Cokin filter system several years ago on my Minolta SLR cameras and found them to be a poor excuse for filters. Quality of the plastic filters cause extreme degradation of image quality.
Glass filters are a better bet.

I use either original Leica filters on my Leicas or other quality filter such as B&W.

The problem with filters is they add another glass surface which will cause some degradation of image quality but there are situations where they are needed. I limit my filter use to yellow, red, and green for b&w work and a polarizer for color or b&w. I also have a RM filter for b&w infrared photography.
Aftermarket filters can also restrict the use of hoods which I find using a hood more important than filters.

 

[jkelly]

The Summar takes a 34mm screw-on filter.

 

[FPjohn]

E39

E39

Hello: 39mm adapter rings can be had for the Cokin A system-I got one from B&H. A 36mm to E39 adapter is available, once made by Leitz NY. This will allow the use of the Summar with your Cokin filters.

Yellow or yellow/green are the most common filter choices for b&w film. Use the search function for this site and down load the Schneider B+W guide.

best of light
Frank

 

[FPjohn]

A36

A36

Hello:
A36 filters fit your elmar directly. The M version will take E39 filters. Screw in filters with a A36 to E39 adapter will be less awkward than the Cokin system.

yours
Frank

 

[jesse1dog]

The problem with filters is they add another glass surface which will cause some degradation of image quality but there are situations where they are needed. I limit my filter use to yellow, red, and green for b&w work and a polarizer for color or b&w. I also have a RM filter for b&w infrared photography.
Aftermarket filters can also restrict the use of hoods which I find using a hood more important than filters.

Thanks Colyn.

But I thought this was an interesting site:

http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/gallery1.htm

http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/gallery2.htm

I know the chap is using a digital camera but that doesn't really change an argument for using the coloured filters if this is the sort of effect you are after.
There is obviously scope here. Image quality doesn't look too bad to me.